Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP loves it around Catterick and has landed the perfect draw on Wednesday

TEMPLEGATE tackles Wednesday’s racing confident of finding more than his fair share of winners, including at day two of the Punchestown Festival.

Read on for our man’s tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.

LANGHOLM (4.30 Catterick, nap)

He went close here last time and has the ideal draw to go one better for under-rated Michael Dods. 

BELL SONG (5.40 Lingfield, nb) 

He caught the eye when a solid second at Southwell 22 days ago. She has a lot more to come for Andrew Balding who is banging in plenty of winners.

HIGH OVATION (2.20 Catterick) 

He has done well in three maidens and is sent north by in-form William Haggas to take what looks a very winnable race. 

Templegate’s Punchestown verdicts

3.40

UNANSWERED won at Cheltenham in November and has gone close on his past two outings, including at Fairyhouse last time. He stays well, has won around here before and looks on a fair mark for a top trainer in Tony Martin.

La Malmason scored on debut at Cork and bettered that form when a close second here latest. She likes this trip and makes her handicap debut from a fair mark.

Mighty Mo Missouri wasn’t beaten far at Cork earlier this month and looks in the mix for Jessica Harrington.

4.15

SENIOR CHIEF is improving with every run and landed a 22-runner novice contest here in February before winning in calmer waters at Navan last month.

He isn’t coming here on the back of a hard race at Cheltenham and should have a lot to offer Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead.

The likely market leaders both ran well in the Albert Bartlett over three miles at Cheltenham and neither particularly want this shorter distance.

But you still have to give Sandor Clegane lots of respect after he was beaten only a length at Prestbury Park. He was closing at the line and appeared to need the full trip.

Three Card Brag was a good fifth in that race and has every chance of making the frame again. 

4.45

GRANGECLARE WEST has had a little break since a poor run in a Leopardstown Grade 1 and can enjoy these calmer waters.

He was impressive at Navan before being upped to the highest level and he won his bumper around here. There’s more to come on just his fifth outing.

Imagine gives Gordon Elliott a good chance of winning this for the first time. He was an excellent fifth in the red-hot Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham last time when he enjoyed stepping up to this distance.

Perfect Attitude’s latest hurdles run came when sixth in good company at the Galway Festival in July. He stays well and is another Elliott runner in with a shout.

5.20

GAELIC WARRIOR took his form up a notch when finishing second in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival last time.

He relished moving up in distance after winning a fair handicap over two miles at Leopardstown in February. Anything close to his last run would be good enough to give Willie Mullins yet another Grade 1.

Affordale Fury comes here after a cracking Festival run, this time when beaten just a length in the Albert Bartlett. That underlines the staying power of the Noel Meade runner who is lightly raced and should have more to offer.

Something was wrong with Favori De Champdou in that Albert Bartlett where he was pulled up. He is better judged on his three wins in a row before that, including a Limerick Grade 2.

5.55

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was brilliant when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup and can confirm that form with his closest challenger Bravemansgame.

Willie Mullins’ superstar was given a patient ride by Paul Townend and crept through the field before powering up the hill for a smooth success. He’s had 40 days off since that mighty effort so should be capable of another big win.

Bravemansgame is much the biggest danger again having been forced to miss Aintree due to issues with his ownership. He was seven lengths behind the tip at Cheltenham but seemed to stay well enough and his brilliant jumping is a major asset.

Envoi Allen got the better of Shishkin when winning the Ryanair Chase and has winning form over this longer distance. He likes to go from the front and could just set this up for the other two. 

6.30

A DREAM TO SHARE looks hard to beat after he extended his perfect record to four wins in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

He tanked along at Prestbury Park before getting up the hill with a bit left in the tank. He’s well ridden by young John Gleeson who can steer him to another success.

Tullyhill looks the pick of the Willie Mullins brigade with Patrick in the saddle. He didn’t have to hit top gear when winning on his bumper debut at Gowran last month. The ground was really testing there but he should cope with this better surface.

The champion has plenty of other hopefuls with It’s For Me running well in the Champion Bumper when trying to come from a long way back. He ran on into fifth and could get closer here if nearer the pace.

7.05

ILIKEDTHEWAYURTHINKIN put a couple of unlucky runs behind him when finishing a good third at Leopardstown last month. His best efforts have come over this trip and his handicap mark of 135 looks fair enough.

Ha D’Or was no match for El Fabiolo and Co in the Arkle at Cheltenham but he went close in a Navan Grade 3 before that. He is likely to revert to his favoured front-running tactics and could take a bit of pegging back.

Lieutenant Commando ran much his best race for a long time when winning a Leopardstown handicap latest. He has been put up a fair 6lb for that which gives him a chance for Noel Meade. 

7.45

FUN FUN FUN was fancied for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before running no sort of race in 15^th. She went to the Festival on the back of a smooth Grade 2 success at Leopardstown and this drop in class can see her back in the winners’ enclosure.

The biggest dangers look to be other Mullins runners. Junta Marvel had lots left in the tank when winning on debut at Limerick. She had a lot more to come.

Cuta Des As won on debut at Down Royal and was far from disgraced when third in a Fairyhouse Listed contest. He needs to build on that but it would be no surprise if he found a lot more today.

Templegate’s tips

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